Magnetic frag racks should not exist. Change my mind...

[cilyjr]

Good Topic!

Like the way you presented your argument - Someone had a great display aquarium but you thought the frag racks detracted from the beauty of the presentation. You politely asked other reefers to help you understand.

Enjoy the discussion and the responses!

Myself, I have a frag rack in my aquarium because my corals are over growing and I need someplace to put them while I offer them to other reefers.

Thanks,
I envisioned this going very differently. Probably wouldn't have posted it if I had foreseen.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I recently stopped by a person's house that would have had an otherwise beautiful aquarium with the exception of these magnetic frag racks all over the glass.

In my mind, a display aquarium should be exactly that, your display. Mucking it up with tiny pieces of coral on grow out magnetic frag racks, in my opinion, completely defeats the purpose of having an area to grow out Coral before adding it to your system.

Every time I have built an aquarium I have added space to have a connected frag system. I will Grant you that I have more opportunity than most to do that as I have always created a dedicated space for aquarium equipment. Still, I have got to say what's the point if you're not making your display exactly that, a display!

Please by all means change my mind. I want to hear the opposing argument!

 

[cilyjr]

I have no desire to have a public aquarium type display.

Then we obviously have different goals, and as I stated above with @MoshJosh, a potential reason for having that would be the individual collector argument.

I can see an argument being made for individuals wanting to collect particular pieces and display them like a very good friend of mine displays his Star wars collection! Still, I don't think clamping a 3-in piece of acrylic in various spots on a glass panel would make for an amazing display of any type.

if I were to go that route I think I would use those str8 up racks. Which I saw to show a few weeks ago.

 

[KrisReef]

Did you work for that person's money? If not be quiet. This has to be the most petty thread I've ever seen here. And there's been a few... This is just as bad as the tank hate threads.

I detect some hostility in your response to the OP's discussion on magnetic frag racks.

We should strive to make only pleasant conversation in our replies to avoid stirring up vitriol into our dialogue.

That aside, Can you provide a link to these tank hate threads, please and thank you.

 

[DanyL]

Whoa what happened here?
Why the hostility?

I too personally prefer to keep a clean looking display, with no obvious “attention seeking” frag racks (or any other artificially looking object for that matter).

And at the same time, I enjoy looking at crammed up frag tanks, with tidily organized frags in a rack.

It’s no more than a personal taste and each and every one of us is entitled to have its own opinion about.

 

[KrisReef]

Thanks,
I envisioned this going very differently. Probably wouldn't have posted it if I had foreseen.

Well, thats good to know. It did seem to go like a typical mis-posted idea often does. You may have had a better outcome with an edited question/ premise? Personally I have enjoyed many of the results with the discussion points provided but consider that it was much cheaper to post and loose than putting a frag in a bad location and suffering that kind of loss.

It hasn't gotten too bad yet, which is fantastic. The MODz may have to step in eventually. report my post here if you want to put them on it?

IT was an accident folks! relax and discuss like barbarians climbing the wall?

 

[jabberwock]

Different strokes for different folks...

 

[KrisReef]

Whoa what happened here?
Why the hostility?

I too personally prefer to keep a clean looking display, with no obvious “attention seeking” frag racks (or any other artificially looking object for that matter).

And at the same time, I enjoy looking at crammed up frag tanks, with tidily organized frags in a rack.

It’s no more than a personal taste and each and every one of us is entitled to have its own opinion about.

Well put. I think the discussion can be useful for folks to consider how they want their tanks to look and develop, maybe even learn to appreciate how others enjoy the hobby.

I love the uncluttered look but struggle not to add one more frag.....

 

[exnisstech]

I don't think people should drive blue cars. I hate blue.

 

[BristleWormHater]

It's 2024 if you don't have an opinion on everything, are you even living? (I'm being sarcastic, cool your keyboards)

 

[VintageReefer]

I collect coral and am out of space and have a new tank to set up. A lot on my racks are items I’m collecting / growing out so my new build can start with items larger than plugs. I continue to buy coral as I feel it’s equally a part of my new build as is the equipment and I can’t do everything at once. I have vision for my new build with both gear and livestock, and this is all part of planning / prepping for it

That said, I also like the look of a neon reef and don’t want a natural one. Been there. Did that almost two decades. I now want my tank to look like the vendors photos. Those vibrant photos are what pull you in to buy the coral. I want that look and have morning and evening lighting on heavy blue. Afternoon is more white. But I do like the crazy neon look

I will admit I can’t wait to move these over to the new build and get rid of most of the racks. I just don’t have space to make a dedicated frag system

 

[OrionN]

To each his/her own. You don't have to look at his tank you know.
A lot of us take pride, satisfaction of seeing the animals/plants under our care thrive. How they look, other than been healthy may or may not be that big of a deal to some people

 

[Reefer Matt]

I’ve had them in my sps display tank when the tank was newer. But after a few years there wasn’t really any room for racks. But they don’t get in the way of me enjoying someone else’s tank. They come in handy when frags break off and there’s no where to put them, or acclimating new frags.

(2020 ish) I used two magnetic frag racks to acclimate frags to the tank and store some broken off pieces.

(2024) No more room for racks! Lol!

 

[HomebroodExotics]

To each his/her own. You don't have to look at his tank you know.
A lot of us take pride, satisfaction of seeing the animals/plants under our care thrive. How they look, other than been healthy may or may not be that big of a deal to some people

If this is your goal then I believe that a dedicated 10 gallon aquarium would be much better for the care of your corals than a small rack that likely won’t get the proper lighting and flow.

 

[OrionN]

I have a frag tank, which is also my QT system. I just saying what people do. You have to have additional light , circulation and room for the frag system. I have a fish room.

But it does not mater to me what people do. Why worry about other people tanks and shorten your life. Take it easy, don't have a cardiac over somebody else reef system. As long as it does not bother them, what make YOU have a right in decide what is right for them?

 

[VintageReefer]

If this is your goal then I believe that a dedicated 10 gallon aquarium would be much better for the care of your corals than a small rack that likely won’t get the proper lighting and flow.

Racks or small magnetic plug shelves can be moved to locations that get proper light and flow. Most magnetic racks are used temporarily to grow things out and to ensure the items health before being epoxied in place on the main structures

10g tanks are difficult to have correct light and flow due to the small area. It tends to become all the same and hard to make zones. It has less water volume which makes parameters easier to bounce around, and requires additional equipment, backup devices, maintenance etc

 

[VintageReefer]

I have a frag tank, which is also my QT system. I just saying what people do. You have to have additional light , circulation and room for the frag system. I have a fish room.

But it does not mater to me what people do. Why worry about other people tanks and shorten your life. Take it easy, don't have a cardiac over somebody else reef system. As long as it does not bother them, what make YOU have a right in decide what is right for them?

Agree 100%

Also. I would love to have a equipment room with a frag system in it. Behind my tank is a guest bathroom. I don’t get many guests. Hmmm. Now I’m thinking. I could plumb through this wall easily. Put a frag tank in. A sump. Add a mini fridge and a fold down RV cot and I would never have to leave!

 

[SliceGolfer]

I once placed a 10" scratch in the front of my display tank due to detritus build up from the frag rack. Never again.

 

[Tamberav]

I feel the same way except about Tangs..

Man this would be a beautiful display if it wasn’t for the same 3-5 tangs everyone else has repeated over and over…

 

[OrionN]

I feel the same way except about Tangs..

Man this would be a beautiful display if it wasn’t for the same 3-5 tangs everyone else has repeated over and over…

Enroll at the Tang Police Academy is my advice